Windows 11 finally overtakes Windows 10 as world's most used desktop OS
It only took four years
After four years of creepingly slow adoption, Microsoft's Windows 11 has officially become the most-used desktop OS in the world, surpassing its predecessor, Windows 10.
According to the latest July 2025 figures from Stat Counter, Windows 11 now commands 51.77% of the global Windows market share, overtaking Windows 10, which has fallen to 45.02%.
The tipping point comes just months before Windows 10's mainstream support ends on 14th October, a deadline Microsoft has been promoting heavily in recent months.
That pressure appears to be paying off: while Windows 11's initial uptake was sluggish, holding less than 10% of the market in 2022, it has seen steady year-over-year growth, climbing to 18% in 2023, 28% later that year, and 36% by the end of 2024.
This year, adoption rates have jumped dramatically.
With over half of all Windows PCs now running Windows 11, analysts estimate more than 700 million active devices are using the platform worldwide.
Although Stat Counter's data is not definitive, it remains one of the most widely used barometers for OS market share trends.
Windows 11 has had a rocky path to the top. First released in October 2021, it marked a significant departure from its predecessors - not just in user interface, but also in hardware requirements and installation protocols.
The OS raised the minimum system requirements, effectively leaving millions of older, but still functional, Windows 10 PCs ineligible for an upgrade, contributing to a massive rise in potential e-waste.
The requirement for TPM 2.0 chips, newer CPUs and a mandatory Microsoft account with internet access during setup drew sharp criticism from users and IT professionals alike.
Windows 11 also arrived with increased ads, pre-installed apps and other so-called "bloatware," which only added to the frustration, though some of these elements were already present in Windows 10.
Still, over time, Microsoft has managed to stabilise the platform. User interface refinements, gaming improvements and performance enhancements, particularly on modern hardware, have helped improve public perception.
The recent surge in Copilot+ PCs, which offer exclusive AI features thanks to powerful neural processing units (NPUs), has further fuelled migration to the new OS.
While Windows 10 will technically receive an additional year of free security updates beyond its official end-of-life, this is clearly a transitional move. Microsoft's larger goal is to drive adoption of Windows 11 and modern PC hardware, especially as it positions 2025 as a "major PC upgrade cycle year."
In a bid to avoid compatibility issues, the upcoming Windows 11 version 25H2, set to launch this autumn, will be built on the same platform as version 24H2. That means fewer disruptive changes for enterprise customers and developers.
However, for users still clinging to Windows 10 machines, the writing is on the wall. If their hardware isn't eligible for the free Windows 11 upgrade, their only option will be to purchase a new PC, ideally one that meets the performance thresholds for Microsoft's next-generation AI experiences.
Computing says:
I remember being at the Windows 10 launch, when Microsoft said it would be the last version of Windows. Funny how that’s changed - Ed.